The two North Texas team mates that sit in the top two spots in the points standings faced off again this weekend at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit. Ken Scheepers, driver of the #17 Allison greatly increased his points lead on Saturday when the #5 Allison car suffered a race ending brake failure. Jay Carley, driver of the #5 Allison, took the green flag that started the first race of the weekend, but quickly hit pit road prior to finishing the fist lap of the race. A front drivers side brake issue was the cause of the early finish.
Ken Scheepers lead every lap of the second race of the day. This on his first trip to Hallett. "This track is really fantastic" where the words that describe Kens first visit to the historic race track. " I have been told this track is a total blast, but I never thought it would be this much fun " said Scheepers. Scheepers finished 29.24 seconds in front of his team mate in the second race on Saturday.
What appeared to be another run away race Sunday Afternoon by Scheepers when the green flag went in the air was cut short after an early full course caution. Divided by qualifying times, Scheepers would start in front of Carley. At the start of the race the #5 driven by Jay Carley was trapped behind at least one other car and gave Scheepers a 25 car length lead. "I knew when I saw the full course caution flags, I had a chance to salvage something from the weekend" "Loosing that much ground in one lap in these cars is almost impossible to recover from unless the other driver makes a mistake and that caution was the break I needed." said Jay Carley. For the next three laps the field followed the pace car around the track while a crash was cleaned up just prior to turn one.
Once the track was cleaned up the green flag was back in the air. From that point in the 40 minute race, the 17 and the 5 were never separated by more than one car length. With three laps to go, Carley drives his Allison deep and inside going into turn two. He makes the pass on the inside, but Scheepers battles back with a cross over to take back the lead. Carley falls back in line at the back bumper of Scheepers and they race through the entire course. With two to go, again Carley drives deep and inside going into turn two. This time Carley is able to hold a side by side position with Scheepers that continues through the next five turns. The duo bringing the fans to their feet in the stands as they watch to see who will come out in front. Carley lifts and yields' into one of the toughest corners of the track, and once again falls back in line. The two head back to Start /Finish, the white flag is in the air with Carley connected to Scheepers back bumper. Again, Carley drives in deep and inside going into turn one and finally clears the front bumper of Scheepers. " I saw the back of that 5 car hanging way the heck out there, and all I was thinking was, which way is he going to spin" says Scheepers. "Up on the wheel is all I can say" he continues. As the two come back to the line for the checkered flag, Carley crosses the line .526 seconds ahead of Scheepers after 43 miles of racing.
Next event will be in August at Texas World Speedway in College Station Texas for these two team mates that race like anything but.
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